What is this castle call'd that stands hard by? MONTJOY They call it Agincourt. KING HENRY V Then call we this the field of Agincourt, Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus. FLUELLEN Your grandfather of famous memory, an't please your majesty, and your great-uncle Edward the Plack Prince of Wales, as I have read in the chronicles, fought a most prave pattle here in France. KING HENRY V They did, Fluellen. FLUELLEN Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps; which, your majesty know, to this hour is an honourable badge of the service; and I do believe your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day. KING HENRY V I wear it for a memorable honour;For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman. FLUELLEN All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that:
God pless it and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace, and his majesty too! KING HENRY V Thanks, good my countryman. FLUELLEN By Jeshu, I am your majesty's countryman, I care not who know it; I will confess it to all the 'orld:
Ineed not to be ashamed of your majesty, praised be God, so long as your majesty is an honest man. KING HENRY V God keep me so! Our heralds go with him:
Bring me just notice of the numbers dead On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither.
Points to WILLIAMS. Exeunt Heralds with Montjoy EXETER Soldier, you must come to the king. KING HENRY V Soldier, why wearest thou that glove in thy cap? WILLIAMS An't please your majesty, 'tis the gage of one that I should fight withal, if he be alive. KING HENRY V An Englishman? WILLIAMS An't please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered with me last night; who, if alive and ever dare to challenge this glove, I have sworn to take him a box o' th' ear: or if I can see my glove in his cap, which he swore, as he was a soldier, he would wear if alive, I will strike it out soundly. KING HENRY V What think you, Captain Fluellen? is it fit this soldier keep his oath? FLUELLEN He is a craven and a villain else, an't please your majesty, in my conscience. KING HENRY V It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great sort, quite from the answer of his degree. FLUELLEN Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, as Lucifer and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look your grace, that he keep his vow and his oath:
if he be perjured, see you now, his reputation is as arrant a villain and a Jacksauce, as ever his black shoe trod upon God's ground and his earth, in my conscience, la! KING HENRY V Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meetest the fellow. WILLIAMS So I will, my liege, as I live. KING HENRY V Who servest thou under? WILLIAMS Under Captain Gower, my liege. FLUELLEN Gower is a good captain, and is good knowledge and literatured in the wars. KING HENRY V Call him hither to me, soldier. WILLIAMS I will, my liege.
Exit KING HENRY V Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me and stick it in thy cap: when Alencon and myself were down together, I plucked this glove from his helm:
if any man challenge this, he is a friend to Alencon, and an enemy to our person; if thou encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love. FLUELLEN Your grace doo's me as great honours as can be desired in the hearts of his subjects: I would fain see the man, that has but two legs, that shall find himself aggrieved at this glove; that is all;but Iwould fain see it once, an please God of his grace that I might see. KING HENRY V Knowest thou Gower? FLUELLEN He is my dear friend, an please you. KING HENRY V Pray thee, go seek him, and bring him to my tent. FLUELLEN I will fetch him.
Exit KING HENRY V My Lord of Warwick, and my brother Gloucester, Follow Fluellen closely at the heels:
The glove which I have given him for a favour May haply purchase him a box o' th' ear;It is the soldier's; I by bargain should Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick:
If that the soldier strike him, as I judge By his blunt bearing he will keep his word, Some sudden mischief may arise of it;For I do know Fluellen valiant And, touched with choler, hot as gunpowder, And quickly will return an injury:
Follow and see there be no harm between them.
Go you with me, uncle of Exeter.
Exeunt SCENE VIII. Before KING HENRY'S pavilion. Enter GOWER and WILLIAMS WILLIAMS I warrant it is to knight you, captain.
Enter FLUELLEN FLUELLEN God's will and his pleasure, captain, Ibeseech you now, come apace to the king: there is more good toward you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of. WILLIAMS Sir, know you this glove? FLUELLEN Know the glove! I know the glove is glove. WILLIAMS I know this; and thus I challenge it.
